Chapter 6
NICKEL
It may look like I continue drinking along with the rest of my brothers, but I don’t like not being in control. Blue knows me well. When I shake my head at another beer, he nods and hands me a bottle of water.
It’s good to let loose with my brothers, though. It’s been a long time since we’ve done this apart from when it’s a party. I watch as Mom arrives with Opal and the kids before Dad joins them.
I study Nora as she watches them. But then I’ve been studying Nora all afternoon. Does that make me a stalker? Who the fuck knows?
I wonder what she’s thinking as she interacts with the other Old Ladies. She seems comfortable. I’ve spent most of my life observing others, and a few times, I couldn’t read her.
Although her face softened when Dad greeted Mom with a kiss. Nora hides a lot, but she likes being looked after. It’s taken me a little while, but I’ve finally figured out her expression this morning when I told her I’d laundered her clothes. It was surprise mixed with happiness.
I may not be the most emotive Tin, but if my parents have taught me anything in life, it’s what a healthy relationship looks like. The Tin men enjoy spoiling our women.
And I want Nora to be my woman.
She may take some persuading, though.
Starting now.
Leaving my brothers to their shit-talking, I walk to where the ladies are sitting with my dad and Cross.
The chairs are all taken, so I drag one over and take a leaf out of my dad’s book—I scoop Nora up, ignoring her squeak of surprise, and sit with her on my lap.
She looks at me with wide, surprised eyes. “What are you—”
“Relax, Nor,” I whisper in her ear.
“But… I’m on your lap?”
“Yep,” I rumble, biting back a smile when she shivers. “It’s a Tin thing. You'll get used to it.”
She narrows her eyes at me, then looks at my dad and mom. Thea, Jeanie, and Bee are smirking, but do me a solid and don’t say anything. Instead, they continue to chat about the cidery and the roadhouse.
Nora relaxes inch by inch until she’s nestled into me. Tightening my arms around her, I brush my lips to her temple and smile when she snuggles deeper into me with a soft sigh.
I’m content with that small softening.
We sit like that until the pizza is delivered, then move to the dining table. The rest of the brothers join us, and it’s a great evening filled with laughter, teasing, and the general mayhem that comes with being a Queens Wraith brother.
It’s late when we leave and make the short walk home. My chest warms when Nora slips her hand into mine, but too soon, we’re walking up the stairs and into my home.
I turn to Nora to offer her first dibs on the shower. “Do you want—”
My words are cut off as her mouth lands on mine.
A rumble of happiness leaves me as I run my hands down her sides to her ass, cupping and kneading like I’ve been wanting to since I met her.
Nora whimpers low in her throat. I grasp her thighs and lift her, and she wraps her legs around my waist. Turning, I press her against the nearest wall, biting back a curse as she rocks against my hard cock.
“Fuck, Nora,” I whisper as I run my mouth down her neck, nipping the pulse fluttering at the base of her throat. “Are you sure you want this, darlin’?”
I lift my head and look deep into her eyes. “Before you say yes, you have to know that this is more than one night for me. If we do this, I won’t be letting you go. I’ve known since I met you that you’re the one for me.”
“Nickel,” she whispers, her eyes searching mine. “I don’t know what my life is going to be like after this job. The Skulls send me all over the world.”
“I know,” I reply. “I understand your job. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a relationship.”
She looks uncertain as she unwinds her legs from around me and drops her feet to the floor.
I hate that I’ve put a stop to what I hoped would be us losing ourselves in each other in bed, but I know we need to have this conversation before we go any further. I don’t want her to have any regrets.
I know what I want. I want Nora. And I’ll work with her to make that happen.
“It won’t bother you? Me being gone for months on end? Never sure if I’m going to make it home?”
Sliding my fingers into her hair, I cup her cheeks.
“Fuck, yes, darlin’. It will bother me because I want to keep you safe with me always.
But I also understand that you’re not a woman who’ll be content with that kind of cage.
So, while it may kill me, I’ll let you go as long as you come back to me. ”
I smooth my thumbs over her cheeks. “I’ve been part of an MC my entire life.
Our mother chapter wasn’t a clean club until recently.
That means I’ve lived on the edge all my life.
I understand the need to get a job done, and I know you’re the best of the best because the Skulls wouldn’t have you working for them if you weren’t.
But I’m a selfish bastard, and I want to have my cake and eat it.
And in case you’re not sure what that means, Nora, I’ll spell it out for you. ”
I inhale a deep breath before continuing. “I want you wearing my name on your back and my ring on your finger. That’s what I want.”
I nibble her lips until they part, sliding my tongue into her mouth in a hard, hot kiss that leaves her panting when I pull away.
I rest my forehead on hers. “The ball is in your court, darlin’.
I’ll wait in the bedroom. If it’s yes, meet me there.
If it’s a no, message me, and I’ll get Copper to come and get you.
There’s no right or wrong choice. Just know that if you choose Copper to come and get you, I won’t give up trying to change your mind. ”
Kissing her forehead, I leave Nora slumped against the wall next to the door, watching me as I walk towards the bedroom, which I hope she’ll choose to share with me.
I tug my shirt over my head and throw it in the laundry basket, followed by my jeans. Silence echoes from the lounge area. I know I laid a lot on Nora.
Walking to the shower, I start it up. I’ll give her the time she needs to decide. If it’s not the decision I want, I’ll have to make my peace with it.
I finish showering. My phone hasn’t made a peep, so I’m hopeful. But I also know that Nora is an independent woman, and she may have gone to Copper and Bee’s after deciding that a relationship with me is too much trouble.
Wrapping a towel around my waist, I grab another to dry my hair as I leave the bathroom.
“You know, for a man who says he doesn’t talk much, when you do, you sure lay a lot on a woman.”
Stumbling to a stop, I lift my head and stare at the vision lying across my bed.
Nora is lying there naked, hands folded on her stomach, long legs crossed at the ankles, blonde hair loose and flowing over my pillows, grey eyes trained on me.
I toss the towel I was using to dry my hair at the laundry basket without looking to see where it lands and stalk towards the bed.
Stopping short, I ask once more. “Are you absolutely sure, Nora? This is your last chance. If we do this, you’re mine. Always. No holds barred. I’ll be so far up your ass when you’re home, you’ll get sick of me. Can you handle that?”
Nora smiles as she reaches out to tug the towel from around my waist. It drops to the floor, and I clench my teeth as she runs a finger over my hard cock.
“I’m sure, Nickel. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like I belong anywhere. Not until last night, when you held me in your arms in The Hole. I knew I was home then. If you can make peace with my job, I can make peace with you being up my arse when I’m home.”
Gripping my cock, she pumps it. “Now stop stalling and fuck me.”
“Fuck, yeah,” I moan as I slide up the bed and settle between her legs, wrapping my lips around a hard nipple.
“Jesus,” she whispers, gripping my hair and pulling slightly until I lift my head. “Kiss me,” she demands.
I do. I devour her mouth, so she’ll never forget who she belongs to.
Once I’ve explored every inch of her mouth, I work my way down her body, leaving no inch of her smooth skin untouched. Every dip, every curve, gets attention.
Kneeling between her legs, I nip at her thigh and cup her knees, easing them open.
“Mm, baby, would you look at that,” I rumble as I run a finger through her dripping pussy. Seeing a glint between her pussy lips, I spread my fingers to open her up. “Oh, Nora,”
I lift my eyes to meet her sultry gaze and grin. “I like.”
Nora’s eyes widen as I bend to flick my tongue against the bar pierced through her clit.
“Fuck,” she pants, her hips rising.
Sliding my arm over her hips, I hold her down and swipe my tongue over her again and again. I take my time, playing with her until she’s close to coming. Then I back off, alternating between licking and sucking her deep into my mouth until she’s chanting my name.
Sliding a finger into her tight channel, I groan when she clenches around it. She’s going to feel amazing wrapped around my cock. I’m hard as a rock, and I can’t wait to slide between her thighs.
I pump my fingers in and out of her, lapping up her juices as she comes, shouting my name.
Sitting back on my heels, I swipe the back of my hand across my mouth, smiling with satisfaction as I witness Nora in the throes of her orgasm.
I grip her hips, turn her boneless body onto her front, and tug her to her knees. Spreading my hands over her ass, I open her up. Christ, she’s slick with need. Streaks of arousal coat her inner thighs, and I spot a wet patch on the sheets under her.
Reaching into the bedside drawer, I snag a condom and slide it on. We haven’t discussed protection, and I’m not sure if she’s on birth control.
I rub my palms over the globes of her ass. “You okay, darlin’?”
Nora opens her eyes, “Yeah. You need to fuck me now, Nickel.”
Chuckling, I slide my cock through her wetness once, twice before I push inside her welcoming body.
“Fuck, Nora,” I hiss as she tightens around my cock. “Give me a minute, baby,” I warn as she rocks back into me.
She gasps and shivers under my hands. “Don’t have a minute, Nickel. You need to move. Now.”
Tightening my grip on her hips, I power into her hard and fast. No holding back. Her hand reaches back, and she grips my thigh. Sliding a hand under her stomach, I find her clit and flick her bar.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” she shouts, throwing her head back and clamping down.
That does it for me. I’m done. I cum. Hard. Squirting into the condom and filling it until I’m weak and my toes tingle, wishing I was bare inside her.
“Jesus, darlin’,” I pant, pressing a kiss to the back of her shoulder. “I came so hard I can’t feel my toes,”
She laughs weakly, burying her face in the pillows.
Not wanting her to suffocate, I ease back, and she slumps, boneless, onto our bed.
An unfamiliar warmth floods through me as I watch her bury her face deeper into the bedding.
Removing the condom, I tie it up and go to the bathroom to dispose of it.
Finding a cloth, I run it under warm water and go back to the bedroom, finding Nora in exactly the same position, although she cracks an eye as I walk back to her.
“My legs feel like jelly,” she admits.
“Mine too, darlin’,” I admit as I cup her pussy with the warm cloth and clean her up.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“Welcome, sweetheart.”
When I’m satisfied she’s cared for, I throw the cloth towards the bathroom and slip into bed with her. Covering us up, I wrap an arm around her waist and tug her towards me.
“Sleep, darlin’. You’re safe here.”
“Night, Nickel,” she murmurs on one breath, and in the next, she relaxes against me in sleep.
“Night, darlin’,” I reply into the darkness.
Closing my eyes, I bury my nose in Nora’s blonde hair, breathing her in, letting the warmth of her body lull me as I drift towards sleep.
For the first time in years, my mind is quiet. No plans or worries keeping me awake, just the feeling of peace.
Who would’ve thought that all it would take was a badass blonde bombshell woman to finally shut down the chaos in my head?
Tomorrow is soon enough to face the list that I know needs doing. And the first order of the day is to contact Coal and get a cut with my name on it. Because I’m making her mine before she can change her mind.
That’s tomorrow, though. Tonight, this is enough. Nora in my arms, sleeping peacefully, tucked up warm and safe right next to me.